Front tightener for safety ski bindings



March 14, 1967 H. MARKER 3,309,099

FRONT TIGHTENER FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed May 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheetl March 14, 1957 FRONT Filed May 8, 1964 H. MARKER TIGHTENER FOR SAFETYSKI BINDINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 7 V/A INVENTOR HANN ES MARKER ORNEYS3,399,099 FRONT TIGHTENER FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Hermes Marker,Alpspitzstrasse 37, Garmisch- Partenltirchen, Germany Filed May 8, 1964,Ser. No. 365,983 Claims priority, application Germany, May 18, 1963, M56,886 8 Claims. (Cl. 280-1135) This invention relates to a fronttightener for ski bindings, in which tightener the tightener lever ispivoted to a bracket, which is adjustable in the longitudinal directionof the ski and from which an adjusting element extends forwardly and issupported by a retaining bracket secured to the ski. In known fronttighteners of this type, the adjusting element consists of a slidemember, a screw, a rod or the like of metal. The co-acting adjusting andlocking parts may become iced so that the tightener can no longer beadjusted under certain weather conditions.

In a front tightener of the type described first hereinbefore, thisdisadvanta e is avoided according to the invention in that the adjustingelement is flexible and provided with means for securing the adjustingelement to the retaining bracket by interlocking with this bracket,Owing to its flexibility, the adjusting element is not susceptible toicing because any adhering ice can easily be broken off by a movement ofthe adjusting element so that the tightener can be adjusted even whentouring under very cold winter condition.

In a development of the invention, the adjusting element consists of afiat, 'bandlike strip, particularly a flat, elastic band of plasticsmaterial, and this strip extends on or is closely spaced from thesurface of the ski. This design results in a tightener having a loweroverall height than has been achieved so far. It must be borne in mindthat a guiding device for the bracket which carries the tightener leveris not required because it is not necessary to protect the adjustingelement from being deflected, whereas such protection of the metallicadjusting elements had previously to be afforded by a sliding guide orthe like for the bracket.

The manufacture will be particularly simplified if the band of plasticsmaterial forms a unit of construction with the bracket which carries thetightener lever so that this bracket is also made from the plasticsmaterial. The band of plastics material may suitably be provided with areinforcement of metal wire. Alternatively, the adjusting element mayconsist of a band of braided metal wlre.

For interlocking the adjusting element with the retaining bracket, arocker lever is suitably pivoted to this bracket and arranged in such amanner that locking elements of the rocker lever and of the adjustingelement interlock in the closed position of the rocker lever. Thelocking elements co acting with the adjusting element may alternativelybe provided on a separate pressure plate, which is guided by theretaining bracket and is movable to the locking position preferably by"a rocker lever.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained more fullyhereinafter with reference to the drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a sideelevation showing the front tightener according to the invention withthe tightener lever in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the tightener, with the parts whichare covered by the tightener lever and the yokelike tension member beingshown in broken lines, and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the open fronttightener;

States atet O ice FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of analternative form showing the rocker lever, acting on a separate pressureplate.

The retaining bracket 3 is secured with screws 2 to the ski 1. A rockerlever 4 which is forwardly movable to its closed position is pivoted at5 to the retaining bracket 3 and in the embodiment shown by way ofexample is formed on its underside with two riblike elevations 6, whichextend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski. A yokelikepulling element 9 for the cable 10 of the binding is pivoted at 8 to thetightener lever 7, which is pivoted at 11 to a bracket 12, which isfreely slidable on the surface of the ski and, as is apparentparticularly from FIG. 2, has a supporting surface which is rearwardlyenlarged in triangular configuration. In the embodiment shown by way ofexample, a band 13 of plastic material is secured to this bracket 12. Tothis end, one flange of the T-shaped rear end of this band engages abolt 14 from behind, which bolt is riveted to the side plates of thebracket 12, and the other flange of said T-shaped end engages a slotformed in the base plate of the bracket 12. As has already beenmentioned, the bracket 12 could form a unit of construction with theband 13 of plastics material so that the manufacture can be considerablysimplified and reduced in cost.

The band 13 of plastics material may consist, e.g. of Nylon (registeredtrademark) or another plastics material which resists tensile stress buthas flexural elasticity. The band 13 is provided in its front portionwith trans versely extending grooves 15, With which the transverse ribs6 of the rocker lever 4 can be engaged. This results in a simple mannerin a locking engagement between the retaining bracket 3 and the tape 13.When the rocker lever 4 has been 'pivotally moved upwardly, the tape 13and with it the tightener lever 7 and the cable 10 of the binding can beadjusted in the longitudinal direction of the ski 1. The rocker lever 4is then lowered until the locking engagement has been effected.

It will be readily apparent that an icing of the tightener which hasbeen described hereinbefore cannot have detrimental results because anyice covering can be broken off simply by bending the elastic band 13 ofplastics material, whereafter the adjustment may be effected.

The embodiment shown by Way of example may be modified in variousrespects. The surface irregularities of the tape 13 co-acting withcorresponding locking parts of the rocker lever need not consist oftransverse grooves but may consist of very small teeth, recesses of anydesired shape, or the like, which face corresponding locking means onthe rocker lever. It would also be possible to provide the lockingelements on a pressure plate, which is guided in the retaining bracketand may be subjected, i.e., to the action of a rocker lever, whichforces the plate against the corresponding locking elements of the band.The band might be made, e.g., from braided metal wire, or a Nylon ropeor a wire cable might be used, which extends through the retainingbracket. In this case it would be necessary to provide the retainingbracket with a semi-circular shell, which contains locking elements, anda second half-shell having the same surface structure must be adapted tobe lowered by means of the rocker lever or the like in such a mannerthat the rope or cable is locked in the retaining bracket.

One example of the use of a pressure plate is depicted in FIG. 4, likereference numerals being used to denote structure similar to that in theprevious figures. In the arrangement of FIG. 4, the retaining bracket 23is provided with a slot 27 in which is disposed pressure plate 25. Tworiblike elevations 26 are formed on the underside of plate 25, extendtransversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski, and engage withgrooves 15 of band 13 Rocker lever 24 is pivotally mounted on retainingbracket 23 and is provided with a cam surface which, upon pivotablemovement of the lever, acts to force the elevations 26 of plate 25against the corresponding grooves 15 of band 13 to effect the lockingarrangement.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A front tightener fior ski bindings comprising a first bracket whichis adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski, a tightenerlever pivotally mounted on said first bracket, heel engaging meanspivotally connected to said lever for adjustment thereby in thelongitudinal direction of the ski, a retaining bracket secured to saidski at a point spaced forwardly of said first bracket, an adjustingelement attached to and extending forwardly of said first bracket andbeing supported at its forward end by said retaining bracket, saidadjusting element being flexible, and means for securing the adjustingelement in interlocking engagement with said retaining bracket.

2. A front tightener for ski bindings according to claim 1 wherein theadjusting element consists of a band-like strip of flexible materialwhich lies closely adjacent the upper surface of said ski.

3. A front tightener for ski bindings according to claim 2 wherein theadjusting element consists of a flat elastic band of plastic material.

4. A front tightener for ski bindings according to claim 3 wherein theband of plastic material is rigidly attached to said first bracket.

5. A front tightener for ski bindings according to claim 3 wherein metalwire reinforcement means are made integral with said band of plasticmaterial.

6. A front tightener for ski bindings according to claim 2 wherein theadjusting element consists of a strip of braided metal wire.

7. A front tightener for ski bindings according to claim 1 wherein saidsecuring means includes a rocker lever pivotally mounted to saidretaining bracket, and locking elements on the rocking lever and on theadjusting element, said locking elements engaging in the closed positionof said rocking lever.

8. A front tightener for ski bindings according to claim 1 wherein saidsecuring means includes a pressure plate having locking elementscoacting with the adjusting element, said pressure plate being guided bythe retaining bracket and being movable to the locking position,preferably by a rocking lever.

References Cited by the Examiner OTHER REFERENCES Ess German application1,092,821 printed Nov. 10, 1960.

- BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

1. A FRONT TIGHTENER FOR SKI BINDINGS COMPRISING A FIRST BRACKET WHICHIS ADJUSTABLE IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF THE SKI, A TIGHTENERLEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST BRACKET, HEEL ENGAGING MEANSPIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER FOR ADJUSTMENT THEREBY IN THELONGITUDINAL DIRECTION FOR THE SKI, A RETAINING BRACKET SECURED TO SAIDSKI AT A POINT SPACED FORWARDLY OF SAID FIRST BRACKET, AN ADJUSTINGELEMENT ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF SAID FIRST BRACKET ANDBEING SUPPORTED AT ITS FORWARD END BY SAID RETAINING BRACKET, SAIDADJUSTING ELEMENT BEING FLEXIBLE, AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE ADJUSTINGELEMENT IN INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RETAINING BRACKET.